Meet the new DHS Athletic Director: Danvers native Andrew St. Pierre

Wednesday

May 21, 2014 at 5:08 PMMay 21, 2014 at 5:08 PM

By Joe McConnelljmcconnell@wickedlocal.com

The announcement came late last week by Danvers High School Principal and Assistant Superintendent Susan Ambrozavitch, thus ending speculation on who was going to replace longtime Athletic Director John Sullivan. Earlier this spring, Sullivan made it known that he was retiring from the top sports post that created the aforementioned opening.Sullivan’s successor comes from a well-known Danvers sports family, while also creating his own legacy as an active star player in the ‘90s. And so when he was notified that he was chosen for the coveted position, Andrew St. Pierre felt right at home to accept the offer.St. Pierre was like any other Danvers kid growing up in this community. He was in the Danvers American Little League, Babe Ruth program, youth soccer organization and even played some tennis at Plains Park. He graduated from St. John’s Prep, and then went to Harvard, the University of Georgia and Boston College, before finally returning home last week as the new DHS athletic director.It has been a hectic week for St. Pierre, but he still found time to answer some questions posed by the Danvers Herald in the ensuing text about some of his plans on the future of DHS athletics.When did you find out about the opening, and what was the process like from beginning to end, and when and who notified you that you were the next DHS athletic director?I found out about the opening when it was first posted. The process was very thorough, in my opinion. It was clear that the committee had put a lot of thought into its approach. The members had very pointed and thought-provoking questions. Their focus was on the future of DHS athletics and how the department could be brought to the next level. The committee was very transparent about its expectations and what it was looking for in the new athletic director.Susan Ambrozavitch, the [DHS] Principal and Assistant Superintendent, notified me early last week that they would like me to be their next athletic director.What made you decide to apply for the position, and growing up in Danvers and as a St. John’s Prep alumnus will that be an asset for you to do the job?As far as AD jobs go, this one is at the top of the list.The athletic department has a lot going for it, with some very talented coaches and staff who have been involved for many years and have enjoyed tremendous success.Having grown up in Danvers, I appreciate the supportive community, and all the coaches and teachers that have helped me along the way. This position provides an opportunity to become a part of that community once again.Familiarity with the area and people always helps, especially in a transitional phase.Have you spoken to your predecessor John Sullivan, and has he given you any advice?I have not spoken with him yet, but will sit down with him in the very near future.Will you be meeting with the coaches and athletes in the near future, and what will you convey to them about the program going forward? Any plans to meet with the parents?Yes, I plan to meet with both coaches and athletes at some point in June. It will be nice to put some names with faces, and start building relationships.My message to them is simply to build upon what’s already been created. I want our student-athletes to focus on being leaders, not only on the fields of play, but in the classroom and in the community, as well.The parents are an important aspect to our success, and I look forward to meeting and working with them in the very near future.Are you planning any changes?At this point, my focus is on getting a better feel for the landscape and how things operate, and also getting to know the student-athletes and coaches. These teams have enjoyed a lot of success, so there is no need for wholesale changes.My goal is to help develop these student-athletes as well-rounded individuals, and provide them with the skills and experience to be the best citizens they can be for our school and community.Having had some experience in a college athletic department at Boston College and in a high school venue at St. Joseph’s Prep in Brighton as a business manager, what do you see as the biggest challenges that await you at DHS? What will you consider the most enjoyable parts of the job?The biggest challenge will be adapting to the DHS environment, and getting a feel for how they operate, which will be different from St. Joseph’s Prep, and different from Boston College. Each school has its own identity, and its own way of operating and it takes time to acclimate to the change in structure.The most enjoyable part is working with the coaches, staff and the student-athletes themselves to create a memorable and rewarding experience for all involved. This is a great opportunity to have a positive impact on their lives.After your days on Summer Street at the Prep, could you outline where your travels have taken you, and the degrees that you have attained?I graduated from Harvard in 2003, and proceeded to obtain a Master’s degree in Sports Management from the University of Georgia. I then worked in the Athletic Department at Boston College for eight years — primarily in Business Operations — and received an MBA from BC during my employment. Most recently, I worked at St. Joseph’s Prep in [Brighton], as the Business Manager, and was an assistant coach for its football team.Are you planning to work with the youth sports leagues in town, and the elementary and middle school sports programs to attract those youngsters to the high school?I think it is very important to build strong relationships with our youth leagues. I hope to help create an atmosphere and experience for the local youth that encourages their continued participation at the high school level. This can only bolster the future of DHS athletics.It is important to provide role models for young kids. I believe the student-athletes at the high school level will be the best ambassadors for our program. I would like to have our student-athletes involved in camps/clinics, and other events throughout town whenever possible, and to be a presence in the middle and elementary schools when opportunities arise.How has high school sports changed, if at all, in the past 20 years since you were a scholastic athlete?A couple of areas come to mind. We rarely played on turf when I was in high school, and when we did it was the hard stuff, not the field turf that is out there today.The media coverage of high school sports has changed due to social media. It is a lot easier to stay connected now than it was years ago.Where would like to see DHS sports in the future?I would like to see us continue to win conference and state championships. I’d like to see our student-athletes making a difference in the community, and going on to do great things in college and society. I want to strengthen the sense of pride in Danvers High athletics both within the school and the surrounding community.